An exhaustive and authoritative investigation into the Christadelphians with links from their own sources as well as insights from former members. Complete examination of their history, organisation, theology, practices, and the challenges they face.

John Thomas on the Bible as the only Authority

The beginnings of the movement that eventually became called the Christadelphians
started by John Thomas preaching the need to dispense with traditions, creeds and
religious books which in his opinion supplanted the free and independent study of
the Bible. He initially
contended against disfellowshipping, although it should be noted that in
his later days after creating a movement he
started to promote more exclusivise bases. Today the Christadelphian
community has various statements of faith, such as the
Birmingham Amended Statement of Faith, its own traditions and whole libraries
of books, including those of John Thomas. In essence the very elements which
were condemned as supplanting “the Bible alone” in other churches are in place today.
In examining the
basis of church authority in the community and the widespread practice of
disfellowshipping
within the community it is worth exploring and understanding the progressions of
thought involved.

The following quote is from the book,
Elpis Israel, by John Thomas, written in 1849 following his first lecturing
tour to Britain:

“Search the scriptures with the teachableness of a little child, and thy labour
will not be in vain. Cast away the traditions of men, and the prejudices indoctrinated
into thy mind by their means; make a whole burnt offering of their creeds, confessions,
catechisms, and articles of religion; and, after the example of the Ephesian disciples,
hand over your books of curious theological arts, and burn them before all.
These mountains of rubbish have served the purposes of a dark and barbarous age;
the word, the word of the living God alone, can meet the necessities of the times”